Every athlete recognizes these three words: Ready, set, go! Whether you were a little one competing against your siblings and friends, or a college athlete pitted against your teammates in a challenge, these words set the stage for whatever race was about to begin. When your designated referee said “Ready,” it was a cue to prepare your mind and body for the competition.

Without a relationship with Jesus, it is impossible to be ready for the race of life. In Romans 3:9-18, Paul says that apart from Jesus we don’t have understanding, we use our words in ways that bring death, we hurt others, we don’t know peace and we don’t know our Creator.

When we don’t know the God who made us, why He made us and our worth in His eyes, we are left to follow broken people and search for purpose in things that were never designed to give us that worth. This might reveal itself in an uncoachable attitude, because it’s hard to receive instruction as an athlete when failure means you’ve lost value. As a coach, it could look like an out-of-control response to poor athletic performance, because your worth is so wrapped up in the success of your athletes. Whatever the circumstance, when we don’t have a relationship with Jesus, we cannot know who we are supposed to be, where we are going or how to live.

While Ephesians 2 begins by explaining what our existence is like without Jesus, verse 4 tells how our entire story changes.

“But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love that he had for us,  made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses.” (Ephesians 2:4)

Because of Jesus we are no longer dead, hopeless and lost. Instead, we are alive, washed clean of our sin and in relationship with the God who created us because He loved us! And He has given us everything we need to run our race well.

He’s Given Us a Mission

In Jesus, part of our mission is to grow in relationship with Christ while inviting others to walk in relationship with Him as well.

“’Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’” (Matthew 28:19-20)

He’s Given Us His Spirit

When we put faith in Christ, the personal power and presence of God comes to live inside of us through the Holy Spirit. The only way to be ready to run the race is by the power and the wisdom that the Holy Spirit gives.

“I pray that he may grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with power in your inner being through his Spirit,  and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.” (Ephesians 3:16-17a)

He’s Given Us His Word

The Holy Spirit uses the Bible to open our eyes and lead us toward Jesus. He brings to remembrance all that Jesus said, and we can hold to His truth in our lives.

“All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

He’s Given Us the Church

We have a team of believers who we get to lean on and grow with while we run toward Jesus. They can help guide, encourage and correct us because they believe God’s best for our lives.

“And let us consider one another in order to provoke love and good works, not neglecting to gather together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:24-25)

Living with a heart ready to grow and show looks like putting faith in Jesus. You’ll be able to learn new skills at a quicker pace because fear of failure isn’t crippling your heart and mind. You’ll learn to honor your teammates like Jesus honored others. It might look like calling a fellow Christian when you are in temptation, struggling with fear or in need of wisdom.

The more we lean into Jesus and what He offers us each day, the more ready we are for the mission God has for us ahead.